<p>I know the answer to this question will vary depending on what schools we're talking about. But in general, how different is the quality of the <em>education</em> you receive in a community college as opposed to a 4 yr. You can rule out the social aspects because a 4 yr would have that hands down, but how much are you really missing out on academically if you choose the CC route?</p>
<p>Any replies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>My first premise would be that education is more than just the classes you attend. Otherwise we could close all the colleges and just send out DVDs of the best profs lecturing. If you watch enough of the DVDs and pass the tests you get your degree. Most people would agree this isn't a satisfying scenario.</p>
<p>So in school you learn not only from the lectures but from discussions with your fellow students. And the content of the lectures themselves is aimed at the preparation level of the students. I don't think the readiness of the students at CC's in the LA area is the same as that of kids at UCLA or even USC, so the profs have to adjust their expectatios accordingly. </p>
<p>Your attitudes and approach to school are going to be influenced by the kids around you. This isn't true for everyone, of course. But if the kids around you show up unprepared, skip the homework, and complain about the workload, its easy to absorb those attitudes towards school. And with stats showing 2 out of every 3 CC students leaving without a degree, it isn't an academically robust environment.</p>
<p>In sum, I'd say in a CC many classes are softened from those presented in a 4-year, your fellow students aren't as prepared or motivated, and the level of expectations is less. Can you leave a CC and do well at a 4-year school? Sure, thousands do it at the UC schools every year. But most would agree there is a period of adjustment needed.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My friend is head of the English Dept at our local junior college and is also coordinating the honors program. She says that often times the education is superior with the JC honors program (compared to our local 4 year college) and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to bright kids. Several of my friends' kids have gone through the honors program and have said positive things about it. I think there is some type of arrangement with certain UCs, too (don't know the details on that).</p>
<p>Another friend went back to school in her 40's to get her degree. She said that her education at the JC was better than the 4 year school.</p>
<p>I was surprised at these comments.....</p>
<p>My S isn't considering it, however. I think it would be a let down for him after all the work he's put into college prep (i.e. AP, taking college classes now).</p>
<p>FresnoMom</p>
<p>My older D went to a cc and after 2 years she went to a state U. She did not have any difficulty adjusting and graduated at 4 years as a phi beta kappa honors student. She goofed off too much during HS and was not prepared for a 4 year college. My DW has taught at both 4 year and community colleges and her last experiences at a cc were very positive. </p>
<p>In our area the cc's are not inferior schools. They do serve different purposes and have more diverse student populations. Some students like my D go directly from HS to the cc. Some do this for financial reasons. Some because they need more individual attention and smaller classes offered at the cc. Many of the students may be adults returning to school to take a few courses or are thinking about a degree. Many of the students left HS and went into the workforce. When they return to school a few years later, many are very motivated.</p>
<p>Many folks have an outdated impression of community colleges. I recently listened to a counselor and college guide author who said that that too many parents are giving their kids bad advice; "avoid community college." Of course, CollegeConfidential likely isn't the place to recommend to kids whom may benefit from a community college because the opinions on this site typically are confined to about less than 2 dozen schools.</p>
<p>In any event, community college can lead some to a degree from one of those "elite" schools. I know a fellow who did 2 years at community college, finished his B.A. at U of Virginia, and then graduated from a top east coast law school.</p>
<p>My mother is an instructor at a community college and has been for roughly two decades. She'll be the first to admit that she gets a huge mix of students. In the same class she may have a bright student who is 45 and returning to school with an 18 year old who didn't have a high enough ACT score to get into a four year school. However, she also has her share of very bright traditional students who choose to go to CC because they aren't ready to go far away from home or can't afford to move or just prefer the environment. Since my father is a university professor, I have grown up seeing the differences side by side. I would say that my mother's community college is a more nurturing environment where the teachers are focused on teaching. My father's large research oriented university is much more of a "you're on your own to survive" type place where the faculty are pressured to put as much if not more emphasis on writing grants and publishing research. They both love with they do and they both teach students who love the choice they made about where to go to school (and both teach those who don't love their decision).</p>